ARCHERFIELD SPEEDWAY ALIVE AND KICKING

Just three months ago, racing at Archerfield Speedway seemed confined to the history books with confirmation that the land on which the venue sits is to be sold.

However, in the wake of the proposed sale failing to proceed for now – as previously reported by AUTO ACTION – a reprieve has been granted, much to the delight of competitors and race fans alike, the 2022/23 summer of speedway will roar into life this weekend at Queensland’s history-rich home, Archerfield Speedway.

The venue will host the opening round of the East Coast Logistics Sprintcar Track Championship this Saturday night, launching a season that will attract more than 30 Sprintcar competitors from three states.

Defending champion Luke Oldfield heads a field that comprises a potent mix of track championship regulars and interstate guns, plus a batch of rookie racers, no doubt relishing the chance to test their mettle on the hallowed Archerfield clay.

Oldfield completely dominated the Track Championship last season with six wins and 11 podium finishes from 14 rounds.

Whilst it might seem as though the absence of ECL series regulars such as Mitch Gowland, Darren Jensen, Allan Woods, Mark Pholi, Dan Murray and former track champ Aaron Kelly due to family, work or other commitments has gifted Oldfield a winning start to his championship defence, the likes of Kevin Titman, Adam Butler, Brent Kratzmann and Tim Farrell are well established as regular players in the battle for feature race supremacy, having amassed 10 top-five results between them last season.

However, it might just be young guns Jy Corbet, Ryan Newton and Taylor Prosser, who prove Oldfield’s biggest hurdle in securing a winning start to his championship defence.

Last season saw each of them land on the podium in an ECL feature race, with Newton snaring the best result of all, breaking through for a maiden win.

Furthermore, the inclusion of Victoria’s Jack Bell and Sydney gun Michael Saller in the field lifts the level of competition further, ensuring that neither Oldfield nor any of the locals can afford to suffer the slightest skerrick of complacency if they intend to visit victory lane.

The largest ever field for a Petzyo Development Series round has been secured, with no less than eight newcomers hitting the track for the first time in Sprintcar competition.

Series regulars such as Libby Ellis, Dan Moes, Nicholas O’Keefe and Brad Keiler will take on at least three drivers making the transition from the Formula 500 ranks in Adrian Josefski, Carlo Moiola and Noah Ball, with Lightning Sprint standout Tyler Stralow also stepping up into the V8 spotlight.

It is hardly surprising to see a stacked field of AMCA Nationals locked in for the opening round of their Track Championship Series, with Bruce Marshall and Steve Potts heading a list of more than 20 entries for the budget-conscious V8 class.

With Marshall and Potts having spent all of last season locked in a battle that ultimately resulted in them finishing first and second respectively in the track championship, there is no reason to think the duo won’t be at the forefront once again come Saturday night.

No doubt the likes of Matt Hardy, Lee McKinnell, Nathan Tomkins and the NSW-based trio of Tony Blanch, Darrell Kime and Paul Reeves, along with all of the others who found themselves consistently outpaced last season, have spent the last few months working tirelessly to unlock even the merest of performance gains in a bid to upend the established pecking order.

With Midgets, Formula 500s and a spectacular Fireworks show also on the program, early racing will get underway from 5:00pm, with the main program scheduled for a 6:00pm start.

Pit gates open at 2:00pm, with spectator entry for online ticket holders from 5:00pm and general admission tickets will be on sale from 4:00pm.

East Coast Logistics Sprintcar Track Championship round one nominations: Adam Butler, Andrew Baumber, Brent Kratzmann, Daniel Helmore, Jack Bell, James Matthews, Jayden Peacock, Jy Corbet, Karl Hoffmans, Kevin Titman, Luke Oldfield, Michael Saller, Randy Morgan, Ryan Newton, Taylor Prosser, Tim Farrell, Trent Vardy

Petzyo Sprintcar Development Series round one nominations: Adrian Josefski, Brad Keiler, Carlo Moiola, Craig Hyde, Dan Moes, Harry Dixon, Jeremy Gaudry, Libby Ellis, Nicholas O’Keefe, Noah Ball, Ron Hendrickson, Steve Bateman, Thomas Button, Thomas Clarendon-Blair, Tyler Stralow

AMCA National nominations: Andrew Nash, Brett Robotham, Bruce Marshall, Darrell Kime, Gary Stacey, Graeme Holland, Kevin Stow, Lee Kendell, Lee McKinnell, Mark Taylor, Matt Hardy, Maverick Dack, Max Cotton, Michael Denning, Nathan Tomkins, Paul Reeves, Peter Greer, Roy Embrey, Russ Hardy, Shane Stacey, Steve Potts, Tony Blanch, Wayne Stacey

Midget nominations:  Brad Dawson, Cody O’Connell, Darren Vine, Harry Stewart, Kody Stothard, Michael Kendall, Scott Doyle, Tim Devine

Formula 500 nominations: Brady Argles, Brock Thornton, Jarred Boys, Kinser Claridge, Kurt Wilson, Nathan Reeks, Riley Simpson, Tom Partington, Wayne Jukes.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of Auto Action.